Big East Power Poll: Week Two

So you're saying there's a chance?

1. South Florida (2) (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Central Florida (31-24, OT)

This Week: vs. Kansas

While losing would have been devastating for the Big East, the fact that it took overtime for the Bulls to topple their cross-state rivals doesn't bother me as much as it does some people. Being that this was the final game of a four-year series that South Florida has dominated, the defending C-USA champs were going for broke and likely put as much effort into bringing this victory home as they will in their bowl game.

Holding off a pesky rival in their place is no easy task, but the fact that it took overtime will look a lot worse if the Bulls don't take out reigning Orange Bowl champ Kansas on Friday night.

2. West Virginia (1) (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Lost to East Carolina (24-3)

This Week: Off

The good news is that victories at Colorado and over Auburn would be enough to put this debacle almost out of mind. Still though, three points?

3. Connecticut (4) (2-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Temple (12-9, OT)

This Week: vs. Virginia

Given the weather conditions, the strength of the Connecticut linebackers and the fact that Donald Brown rushed for 214 yards on 36 carries (5.9 ypg), I'm still trying to figure out why it took overtime. A rematch with the only non-Big East team to touch the Huskies in last year's regular season now looms.

4. Cincinnati (3) (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Lost to Oklahoma (52-26)

This Week: Off

I planned on dropping the Bearcats more after the shellacking in Norman and the news that Dustin Grutza broke his right leg, but who the hell else am I going to put them behind?

Sam Bradford and company being able to hang 52 on the likes of Mickens, Smith and Underwood is scary. Here's hoping whoever wins the league draws a team with a suspect signal caller in the BCS.

5. Rutgers (5) (0-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Off

This Week: vs. North Carolina

The league and the Rutgers football program will be forced to absorb another hit if the Knights can't take care of a Tar Heel squad that struggled to outlast McNeese State two Saturdays ago.

6. Pittsburgh (6) (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Buffalo (27-16)

This Week: Off

You were this close to being dropped to seventh. Let's say how the whole Iowa thing works out and we'll reconvene in a couple of weeks.

7. Louisville (7) (1-1, 0-0)

Last Week: Beat Tennessee Tech (51-10)

This Week: Off

It's nice to see the Cards hitting the half-century mark again, but I beat Tennessee Tech by 42 last year...in Cookeville.

  8. Syracuse (8) (0-2, 0-0)

Last Week: Lost to Akron (42-28)

This Week: vs. Penn State

Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head.